I always enjoyed reading "The Giving Tree" at home and at school when I was a kid. This book is a classic, that many kids even today have read. I always interpreted the book as a story about a boy and how he goes through the life cycle of different stages, growing older, and eventually dying. Throughout the boy's life, he has this tree that he goes and visits, and the little boy expresses all these wishes that he wants. The tree gives up everything and anything she can to satisfy this boy. Eventually there is nothing left to the tree, and the boy is old and it ends that way.
Now when I was younger, I thought this book was just about the cyle of life. But now looking at this book as an adult, I can see different positions of power being worked out through the characters. The tree is a "female" character that gives herself to this boy and does everything she can in her power to help this boy succeed and be happy. The boy never gives anything in return and eventually there is nothing left to the tree. This book is emphasizes the idea that the little boy/man that he becomes has the power in this situation, which demonstrates to the audience that the male is in the position of power. In our society, sometimes there is this notion (especially in the recent past) that women should be submissive to the dominant male and sacrifice their happiness to make the male happy.
I am not saying this is a book you shouldn't use in your classroom. However, I do think that while you read this you should help your students dig a little bit deeper and see from a different perspective. Do the children connect with this kind of environment where the females in their family are always giving and never recieving? This is kind of a controversial topic, but definitely should be pointed out if this book is read to a child audience. Otherwise, the children will read this and subconsciously hear these underlying messages that women are supposed to always give and give and be submissive to these male dominating figures.
Now when I was younger, I thought this book was just about the cyle of life. But now looking at this book as an adult, I can see different positions of power being worked out through the characters. The tree is a "female" character that gives herself to this boy and does everything she can in her power to help this boy succeed and be happy. The boy never gives anything in return and eventually there is nothing left to the tree. This book is emphasizes the idea that the little boy/man that he becomes has the power in this situation, which demonstrates to the audience that the male is in the position of power. In our society, sometimes there is this notion (especially in the recent past) that women should be submissive to the dominant male and sacrifice their happiness to make the male happy.
I am not saying this is a book you shouldn't use in your classroom. However, I do think that while you read this you should help your students dig a little bit deeper and see from a different perspective. Do the children connect with this kind of environment where the females in their family are always giving and never recieving? This is kind of a controversial topic, but definitely should be pointed out if this book is read to a child audience. Otherwise, the children will read this and subconsciously hear these underlying messages that women are supposed to always give and give and be submissive to these male dominating figures.
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